Cigar piercing apparatus



March 2, 1943- 'B.'J. NIEMczYNsKl ETAL 2,312,577

CIGAR PIERCING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1941 Patented Mar. 2, 1943 CIGAR PIERCIN G APPARATUS Benjamin J. Niemczynski, Bronx, and Joseph B.

Midulla, New York, N. Y., and Joseph D. Midulla, Tampa, Fla.

Application February 20', 1941, Serial No. 379,876

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for piercing or perforating the ends of cigars and the like to provide a small axial bore in one of the ends thereof in order that the cigars may be smoked Without the necessity of the smoker biting or cutting off the ends in order to permit the cigar to draw properly.

More particularly, the invention relates to motor, or power-driven, cigar piercing apparatus primarily designed to be used by manufacturers or importers for piercing the ends of the cigars before they are packaged for the retail trade.

An object of the invention is the provision of a rotary cigar tip piercing apparatus having a rotary tubular cutter which is cylindrical in cross section, and means for collecting the dust or cuttings from the cigars and subsequently discharging these cuttings from the collecting means into a collection chamber.

Another object is to provide a cigar piercing instrumentality which is mounted in a substantially horizontal plane, and in which provision is made for preventing axial displacement of the cutter during the cigar piercing operation.

A further object is the provision of cigar guide means disposed adjacent the cutter for receiving the end of the cigar to be pierced, and constructed to support one end of the cigar in axial alignment with the vcutter during the piercing operation.

A still further object is the provision of a rotary piercing head in which the outer and inner surfaces are circular in cross section and both of said surfaces taper outwardly away from the cutting end, the inner surface constituting an axial bore, and a rotary supporting sleeve member in which the tubular tapered cutter is removably mounted, said sleeve member having an elongated receiving chamber for the cigar dust and cuttings and radial discharge openings formed therein.

A still further object is the provision of a stationary dust-collecting casing surrounding the aforementioned sleeve orvreceiving chamber for receiving the cuttings discharged from the receiving chamber through said radial discharge openings, and collecting means removably disposed in the casing.

Another object is the provision of means surrounding the sleeve member kfor slidably and yieldably supporting the cigar guide means in axial alignment with therotary cutter.

A still further object is the provision of a novel and, improved cigar piercing assembly as hereinafter more specifically described. -1

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In the drawing: 4

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of our improved cigar piercing apparatus, the full lines showing a cigar after it has been pierced, and the dotted lines illustrating the cigar and its guide means in the initial position before engagement of the cigar with the piercing cutter;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawing in which A indicates a horizontal supporting surface, such as a work-bench or table top, on which our improved cigar tip piercing device is mounted.

As best seen in Figure 1, we preferably mount our cutter on the rotary drive shaft of a motor B, this shaft being indicated at I, and the rotary cutter and supporting barrel or sleeve member thereof being indicated generally at 2.

This barrel 2 is provided at 3 With an enlarged chamber intermediate its ends and a bore or axial opening 4 for receiving the motor shaft l. The barrel is held in place on the shaft l by setscrew fastening means 5, or in any other suitable manner.

The cigar tip piercing cutter is indicated generally at 6, and is securely held in place in the other end of the barrel 2 by the set-screw fastening means l.

The cutter 6 comprises an elongated tapered tubular portion having a sharp cutting edge 8, and a central bore or passage 9 which tapers from the barrel supporting end to the cutting edge 8. The outer surface l0 of the cutter also tapers from its base or rear end toward the cutting edge 8 as indicated, and is preferably formed with a cylindrical supporting portion Il. The cylindrical portion II of the cutter is securely disposed in a bushing l2, by a tight or press-fit between the cylindrical portion Il and the cutter-receiving bore in the bushing.

The cutter 6 and bushing I 2 are removably disposed as a unit in the end of the barrel 2, as seen in Figure 1 of the drawing, and held in place by set-screw fastening means 1, as previously referred to.

The barrel 2 is provided intermediate its ends With radial discharge openings I4, leading from the chamber 3 to the exterior for discharging the tobacco dust and cuttings that pass through the tapered bore 9 of the cutter 6 and into the chamber 3.

Surrounding the barrel 2 in the plane of the radial discharge openings I4 is a dust collection chamber or casing I5. This casing, as shown in the drawing, rests on the supporting surf ace A and is held in position thereon by bolts or other suitable fastening Vmeans I6. The casing vis preferably closed at its top, ends, and'sides, the side plates thereof being apertured, if desired, as indicated at I1, for inspecting the interior of the casing I5, to determine the amount of dust which has been discharged from the barrel 2 through-the openings I4 into the chamber or casing I 5.

Removably disposed in the lower portion of the casing I5 below the rotary barrel 2 is a lremovable receptacle I8, as best seen in Figure 3, to collect the discharged tobacco dust andcuttings. This receptacle I8 is provided with a handle'IQ tof-acilitate the removal thereof from the casing.

The casing I5 is formed with a cylindrical barrel-receiving opening 20 of slightly larger diameter than the exterior 'surface of the rotary barrel 2, so that the barrel may freely rotate in this opening 20 entirely out of frictional con-tact with the casing I5.

Upstanding from the supporting base A 'between the collection chamber I5 and the lcutter receiving end of the -barrelv2, as seen in'Figure 1 of the drawing and indicated at 2 I, isa-supporter bracket member for the cigar supporting 'and guiding means which receives the tip end of the cigar to be pierced and guides thesame intothe cutting edge 8 of the cutter 6'.

This supporting Ameans 2I,'as shown, comprises a short'length of rectangular tubing, and bolt fastening means 22 pass through the bottom side to secure the same in place on the supporting surface A. A sleeve bearing 23 is secured in place in the openings in the vertical walls 2 Iaof, the supporting means, and is positioned in 'axial v'alignment with the axisof rotation of the barrel 2.

The sleeve bearing 23 is spaced from the exterior surface of the barrel and-slida-'bly receives therein the cigar guide supportingtube 24. This `tube 24 slides within the sleeve bearing 23 and is preferably provided with fa pin projection 25 operating in a slot 26rformed in the sleeve 23'to limit the extreme sliding movements of the tube 24 within the 'sleeve bearing. A light coil spring 21 'surrounds the outer end of the tube 24 beyond the end of the guide sleeve 23. Olne end of this spring be'ars against the end of the sleeve 23, andthe other end of the spring is bent at right angles, as indicated at 21a, and projects into and through'an aperture'28 in the outer end of the tube 24.`

The tube 24 iscounter-bored, as indicated at'29, to accommodate a cigar tip receiving thimble 30. The outer surface of this thim'ble'SU is formed lwith a recess 30ato receive theV bent endwportion 27a of the spring 2'I. When the spring 21 is in `place on the tube 24 it will not onl-yjexert outward thrust on the tube with respect toits supfro porting-sleeve bearing 23, b-ut theendof the spring g Y projecting through the opening 23 of the tube -24 into the aperture'Saof the thimble30 forms an interlocking connectinbetwen the'tube 24 and the Vtliiml'nle`3i) and prevents accidental displacement of the'thirnble from the tube.

The thimble 30 isformed with'a cigar tip receive ing recess or depression 3I havinga central aperture 320i slightly` greater diameter than 'the exterior taperedY surfaceil 5 Vof the piercing cutter' 6.

The-'guide tubel24 `and its cigar-receiving thim ble are Ynoirnall'yprojectedforwardly tothe dotted line position as indicated by the arrow X in Figure 1, so that the cutter 6 is disposed within the central aperture 32 and below the bottom of the cigar-receiving depression 3| of the thimble 30 with the pin 25 at the lefthand or outer end of the slot 26 in the guide tube 23.

It should be here observed that the bore through the tube 24 is of `greater diameter than the outer surface lof the barrel 2, so t11at the 'barrel 2 and tube 24 are out of frictional contact with each other. YThe barrel 2 and its cutter Iv are carried primarily by the shaft I of the motor B, and the motor B `is secured on the supporting surface A by any suitable fasteni-ng means, such as the The vertical side walls 2Ia of the rectangular tubular sup-porting means 2 I may be provided with 'openings 34 for inspection purposes and for ac.

cess vto the sleeve 23, and the pin and slot connec- In the operation of our fdevicefthe motor is started Which 'causes ah'ghspeed -iibftationvof the barrel and-its `cigar piercing cutter' 6, "the'guide tube 24 and its cigarreceivingthimble 30 remain- `ing stationary.

The end of a cigar 'C is -insert'ediritothe depression 3I of the thimble3, centralizing-that end of the cigar vwith respect to the cutter 6. The cigar is held in la'ppro'xir'natel'yaxial alignment with the 'axis of the rotating cutter and pressure is applied to thefcigar Ain the V'direction sisted by centrifugalV actionfo'f 'therot'ating cutter in its movement through the boreand into the chamber `3. VThese cuttings'twill be f more for less held against 'the 4inner `surface fo'f the 4barrel :by the centrifugal action, 'but 'as the ."forceof centrifugal action lis -less near the faxial center-of the barrel 2, the inner portion yof the accumulation of .tobacco dust and cuttings in the chamber 3 of the barrel 2 vwill be gradually "fed toward the. radial open-ings vI4 and `V`discharged therethrough by centrifugal force finto lth`e1casi-ng`fl5 `andV deposited 1in the receptacle I8, which readily emptied Vwhen desired.

The thimble 30 securelyfhold's fthe tipportion -of thecigarin proper alignmentwith the rotary cutter 6 VVduring the cutting operatiomthe curved rwalls of the depression `3Iin"the Ithimble `'exert-Y Iing radially inward pressure onthe f'eiteriortip portion of the cigar tending to resist splitting of the cigar wrapper.

'The friction `of .the exterior surface rI 0 fof 'the 'rapidly rotating cutter"6 on :the A'ci'gareas it 'follows the cutting edge' into the lv'cigarereat'es heat which servesV to lso'f-.tenlthe adhesive usually onthe ktip of most fall cigars, reducing ls'plitt'ng and, in addition, -producing av-burni'shingleffect on the walls of Athe hole being Vform'etlf-i'n the cigar',"a`n'd forming 'a'smoth, clean hole, freelfro'm loose material'which would tend Vto 'interfere with the draw Vof-the-cigar. The-edge'of the wrapper 'in' the vicinity 'bf 'Athellilefis 'also somewhat-'rolled intothe penirig being formed-bythe rapidly rotating tape'r'e'cllciitterfcreating vla Zvery may be pleasing and smooth appearance of the wrapper around the hole.

In order to withdraw the cutter from the cigar, the holding pressure on the cigar is released. The spring 21 will move the tube 24 and its thimble 3U back to the position shown by the arrow X, and the cigar may be withdrawn from the depression 3| in the thimble 30.

The tapered bore 9 through the cutter 6 will positively prevent the tobacco dust and cuttings from the cigars, which contains a certain amount of gum adhesive, clogging the bore, as would be the case if a straight or cylindrical bore through the cutter 6 were used. Also, any slight lateral movement of the unsupported end of the cigar as it is withdrawn from the cutter will not tend to split the wrapper, since slight withdrawing movement of the tapered outer surface l of the cutter 6 moves the cutter out of contact with the tapered bore which has been formed in the cigar.

While the specific details of construction have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto as alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as dei-ined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a piercing cutter of the class described, a rotary support, a tubular member carried at one end by said support for rotation therewith and formed with an elongated central passage having radial discharge openings through the wall thereof intermediate the ends of the passage, a tubular piercing cutter removably fixed in the opposite end of the central passage in said tubular member with its longitudinal axis in alignment with the axis of rotation of the rotary support and having a cutting edge at one end and an axial passage leading from the cutting edge into the elongated central passage of said tubular member, a casing surrounding said tubular member intermediate its ends and having spaced side walls located adjacent the opposite sides of the radial discharge openings, and a collection receptacle removably disposed in said casing below said tubular member intermediate said side walls.

2. In a cigar piercing apparatus of the class described, a rotary cylindrical barrel having a tapered tubular cutter at one end thereof formed with a circular cutting edge at its free end, and having a tapered bore extending therethrough from the cutting edge into said barrel, discharge openings extending through the wall of the barrel from the interior thereof to its exterior, cigar guide means movable axially with respect to said barrel and cutter, comprising a sleeve member receiving one end of said barrel and a thimble disposed in one end of said sleeve member having a cigar tip-receiving depression therein and an axial opening therethrough to receive the tapered tubular cutter, a fixed tubular support for said sleeve, coil spring means surrounding said sleeve having one end thereof engaging one end of said tubular support and the other end extending through said sleeve and into said thimble to interlock said sleeve a-nd thimble together and to exert yieldable axial pressure on the said guide means, a casing surrounding said barrel having substantially parallel side walls disposed transversely of the axis of rotation of the barrel and cutter, and disposed at each side of the openings through the wall of said barrel and formed with a circular opening therethrough to receive the said barrel, and means for rotating said barrel and cutter.

3. In a cigar apparatus of the class described, a rotary cylindrical barrel having an unobstructed axial bore extending therethrough with an enlarged intermediate portion, a tubular cutter in one end of said barrel having a circular cutting edge and an axial bore extending into said unobstructed axial bore of the barrel, said barrel having radial openings through the wall thereof in communication with the elongated intermediate portion of said bore, axially movable cigar guide means surrounding said cutter and one end of said barrel and having an opening therethrough to receive said tubular cutter and formed with a cigar tip-receiving depression surrounding said cutter receiving opening, a stationary tubular support slidably receiving said guide means therein, means for preventing rotation of said guide means and limiting the axial movement of said guide means with respect to said tubular support, a collection casing surrounding said barrel having side walls disposed at opposite sides of the openings in the wall of the barrel, and formed with barrel receiving openings through said side walls, and a support for said stationary tubular support having parallel side walls formed with openings therein to receive the opposite ends of said stationary tubular support.

4. In a cigar piercing apparatus of the class described, an elongated rotary tubular member, a tubular cigar piercing cutter at one end thereof, cigar guide means therefor comprising spaced supporting plates surrounding said tubular member intermediate the ends thereof, and

Y formed with enlarged guide bushing receiving openings therein, a guide bushing xed in said openings adapted to receive said tubular member intermediate the ends thereof and in spaced relation thereto, a cigar guide sleeve telescopically mounted within said guide bushing having one end thereof adapted to project beyond the said tubular cutter, and being adapted to slide over said tubular member to expose said cutter, stop means for limiting the said sliding movement between said sleeve and bushing, and spring means between said sleeve and bushing for moving said sleeve outwardly over the tubular member and cutter, said sleeve member having formed in the outer end thereof a cigar tip-receiving depression having an opening therethrough to receive said cutter and adapted to guide the tip end of a cigar disposed in said depression into said piercing cutter.

BENJAMIN J. NIEMCZYNSKI. JOSEPH B. IVLUDULLA. JOSEPH D. M'IDULLA. 

